Judicial information was opened on September 27 in Paris on the role of consultant to an American institute of Sylvie Goulard, a former minister who became deputy governor at the Banque de France, the National Financial Prosecutor's Office said on Friday, confirming information from
Liberation
.
The judicial investigation, triggered by a complaint from the Anticor association, was opened for passive corruption, passive influence peddling, illegal taking of interests and abuse of corporate assets, detailed the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF).
Last June, the anti-corruption association filed a complaint with a civil action which almost systematically obtains referral to an investigating judge.
Read alsoSylvie Goulard leaves the Banque de France
The Banque de France announced in a press release on Friday the departure of its deputy governor since 2018, also a former MEP and ephemeral Minister of the Armies of Emmanuel Macron in 2017. The decision will take effect on December 5.
Sylvie Goulard wanted to "
join the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs which is her original administration
", according to the press release.
According to those around Ms. Goulard, this departure “
has nothing to do with the investigation
”.
“
Neither Sylvie Goulard nor her lawyer have been informed of the renewal of the investigation
”, it was specified.
A first complaint in 2019
A first preliminary investigation opened after a simple complaint from Anticor in 2019 had resulted in the classification of the PNF without follow-up in November 2020 for "
absence of infringement
", according to elements of the file consulted by AFP.
In its complaint, the association wonders about the reality of the work carried out by the former MEP for the Berggruen Institute, a think tank based in California, and about the possible counterparties in exchange for the remuneration paid within the framework of this contract.
Read alsoEurope: the failure of Sylvie Goulard, a snub for Emmanuel Macron
Ms. Goulard had admitted having worked as a “
special adviser
” for more than 10,000 euros monthly between October 2013 and January 2016 with the Council for the Future of Europe, a think tank created by the Berggruen Institute, when she was an MEP.
Ms. Goulard had assured that this employment, authorized by the regulations, had been declared and that she had "
no relationship of any kind with commercial activities
" with the founder of the institute, the German-American billionaire Nicolas Berggruen .
During a hearing before the European Parliament, she had described “
proven
” work: “
reflection, group facilitation, organization of meetings
”.
His lawyer declined to comment.
The Berggruen Institute had denied at the time of the filing of the first complaint in 2019 any fictitious employment, referring in particular to the organization of a “
round table in Brussels
” and “
conferences in Paris and Madrid
”.
The former MEP is also indicted in the investigation of parliamentary assistants to MoDem MEPs.